Shade-roller



Jan. 19, 1932.

/a in C. F. SCHMELZ SHADE ROLLER Original Filed July '7, 1930 Fig. 1.

Patented Jan. 19, 1932 PATENT ;OFF CE (irr tates r. scn untz, or muneiiron'r, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR 1 THE. STAY-PUT V SHADE ROLLER CORPORATION, OFIBRIDGEPORT, Connncrxccr, A CORPORATION or CONNECTICUT g a SHADE-ROLLER,

7 Application filed Jur 7,1930, Serial The invention has been clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters denote similar parts and in which Figure 1 is a front view of a shade roller withits supporting brackets, the latter'being shownin central section. Fig. 2 is 'a rear face View of the base plate. Fig. 3 is'a side'- face view of the supporting bracket which carries the operating mechanism. Fig; at is an end view of the shade-roller perse and Fig. 5 shows, in perspective view, thes'e'veralelements alined in sequential positions ready to be assembled. I j

Briefly stated, the present invention provides an improved mechanism whereby a solid and spring-less shade roller which may be coupled thereto, will firstly be frictionally held against being rotated by theweight of the clown-hanging portion of the shade-fab: ric and its lower stick and tassel, and which will, secondly relieve this friction when a cord attached to the main pulley or spool of the mechanism is pulled to rotatetheroller in the opposite direction, to raise the shade, so thatthe operators hand-pullhas to overcome only the weight of the down-hanging portion ofthe shade.

Referring to the drawings, the operating mechanism of the roller comprises a stationary support formed in the shape of a baseplate P consisting substantially of a disk 10 having a central hollow hub 11 and attachingprongs 12 adapted to be driven into the inner side face of a window casing, the several portions of the base plate b'eingpreferably homogenous and formed from sheet-metal by punching and drawing-process. Mounted for free rotation on the hub 11,-is the main No. 466,015. Renewed June 20,1931;

14t connected by a tubular hub15, the space thus formed between the flanges being sufficient to receive the required length of raising cord C inspooled-up condition. Of the I two flanges named, theflange 14 is, in reality, the most important one, because, when the shade roller R is in proper position, theroller-end and the spool flange 14. are coupled together, soas to rotate in1unison,'by a mechanism comprising a sheet-metal brake drum D having a peripheral flange 16 whereby the drum, as a unit, isflrmly secured to the spool flange 14, as for. instance by tabs 17 lanced in the flange 14- and fitting into notches 18 of the drum-flange, the tabs'being bentover or set, as shown at 17a to hold theparts firmly together. 7 Drivingconnection between the brakedrum D and the shade-roller R is established by aneXtension-pron'g 19 provided on the edge of'th e annular brake-flange 20 of the drum andadapted, when the roller R is placed into proper position, to enter the open end of a 4 tubular eyelet 21 forced into the end of roller R,the'prong 19 being sufliciently long to permit a small amountof longitudinal floating movement of the roller relative to the prong, without severing their engagement.

'From the foregoing it will be understood that this driving-connectionbetweenthespool and the roller remains permanent, as long as the roller remains in its regular or operative position; While, on the other hand, the roller 1 may belreadilyremoved from the spool, or the brake-drum specifically, without'in any Way 1 disturbing "the assemblage of the driving mechanism. Furthermore, it will be evident that, when the'shade on'the roller is pulled down, the roller, thru the intervention of the eyelet 21,-b ecomes the driver to rotate the spool in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, while, when thespool is rotated by a pull on the cord C, the rotation will be in a reverse oranti-clockwise direction, and the shade will,therefore, be raised.

As above stated, this invention has for its particular object the provision of an improved mechanism whereby the tendency of the weight of the clown-hanging portion of the shade to rotate the roller so as to let the shade run down by its own weight, will be frictionally resisted, so that it will require an additional hand-pull by the operator to pull the shade down. At the same time, the present device permits not only this slip-frictional act-ion, but the same element or band which causes the holding-friction on the inner face of the brake drum, will be relieved from this comparatively strong frictional engagement, when the drum is rotated rev-ersely, so that, from the practical standpoint, the pullexerted on the cord will have to be just enough to raise the weight of'the shade, the friction between the brake-b and being then practically negligible.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noted that the base-hub 11 has a bushing 22, the lefthand portion of which is press-fitted into the hub 11, while the right-hand portion thereof extends beyond the hub and is of the same outside diameter so as to serve as an additional bearing for the spool-hub. At its extreme right-hand or outer end, the bushing body is enlarged to overlap annularly the spool-hub an'd-hold the latter in place and against slipping-off sidewise. In addition to' this function, the bushing-end has a longitudinally-projecting flange 2-3 to which the brakermember is anchored. This brake-band consists of acontact memberrB made of a resilient strip of sheet metal similar to a part of a clock-spring, one a (the inner) end of which 'is bent to fit into a slot 23a in the bushing fiange 23, to which it may be secured in any suitable manner.

'From'the bend at the slot 23a the brake band B curves so as to fit snugly against'thc inside of the brake-drum D, the running length of the contact between these parts depending upon the requirements of frictional resistance proportionately depending upon thetemper and gage of-the band The eX- treme freeandouter end of the brakeband B is slightly bent inward, or'away from contact with the inner surface of the brakedrum, asat 24:, so that, when the brake-drum is rotated clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 8) by the shade on the roller being pulled downward, the frictional contact between the outer end of the band and the drum will push the band into frictional engagement with the inside surface of the drum without cutting the-same but, inasmuch as the inner end of the band isanchored on a fixed point, viz the slot 23a, the rotation ofthe drum rel-atively tothe band will be considerably impeded, the frictional resistance'thus established there being sufficient to counteract any weight of shad-eon the roller.

Now, when it isdesired to raise the shade by a pull-0n the cord 0, the drum will be rotated reversely, orantieloclrwise as viewed in Fig. 3,.and therefore, the outer band-end will be frictionally pulled forward, thus relieving the frictional contact between the main length of the band and the drum, so that the resistance becomes very small, and the operator'has to pull on the cord only with sufliexpansion into contact with the drum-flange will. be full and even,'for its-entire running length.

Emphasis is laid upon the fact, that in the present invention thebr-ake-band consists of only one single member which is entirely automatic in its gripping or relieving-action,

and without requiring any additional or extraneous means or devices to produce the'desired results.

In order to hold thebrake-band in proper position within the drum, the latter hasits outer edge lipped inwardly, as at 16a,;just sufficien'tlyto prevent the band from ,riding- -out-of the drum, and withoutiinterfering with the insertion or removal of theband thru the open outer face ofithedrum.

lhe entire mechanism is extremely simple and consists of very vfew-parts which can be readily.assembled into a marketable unit whichis complete and can be attached to the window-casing by one single screw, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1.

There, it will benoted that'the bushing whichis preferably formed from sheet metal, is drawn-shouldered at 22a, near the place Where the outside diameters of the base-hub 11 andthe bushing co-ordinate to form the bearing for .the spool S; while the base-end ofthe bushing is spun over or headed, as at 22?), so. that the bushing becomes afiXed element of the unit. Inasmuch as-the bushingend andthe base-hubare both tubular, I take advantageof this fact byusin-g a special screw H-the shankportion of whichis of regular standard size, while it has a special filister-head, the shoulder of whichv engages the bushing-shoulder 22a and therefore draws the entire device, comprising the base plate, with all the parts "carried by the'same, into contact with the window casing, causing the prongs to enter the latter and therefore preventing the base from turning. The outer end of the filister screw head is preferably reduced in diameter and projects forward sufficiently' to permit the roller, when the latter is again tobe placed in position after removal, to. find a centering support-medium,

before the roller-eyelet 21 and tab 19 are brought into engagement. f

This center-finding operation is rendered easy. by virtue of the fact that the end of the filistcr-head extension of the screw is rounded so as to readily enter the central hole provided in the rollerend for centering purposes, when the body of the roller is being turned-into cylindrical form in the lathe.

The assembling of the device is as follows:

1. The spool S and brake-drum D are assembled as a unit, by bending-over flangetabs 17, by a setting-tool. I

2. Place the spool-unit SD. onto the base hub, by hand.

3. Press the bushing into place in the base hub 11, and head or spin-over the base-end of the bushing, by spinningpress.

4. Insert the brake band B, by placing the inner end into the bushing tab slot 23a and snapping the outer and intervening length into place behind the drum-lip 16a, by hand.

Note, that the direction of resistance can be either clockwise or anticlockwise, in accordance with the way the band is placed.

To install the device on the window casl. Determine position of roller-center.

2. Make a small hole in the casing, in rollercenter position (by nail or drill).

3. Make prong-indentations for the baseplate. by using a setting-tool and hammer,

4. Insert filistcr head screw, by screwdriver.

Changes may be made inthe construct-ion as well as in the organization of the several parts of the device, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A mechanism of the character described comprising a stationary support, a member rotatable thereon and having a cylindrical brake-surface, a resilient brake-band frictionally engaging said surface and having its inner end anchored to said support, whereby, when the member is rotated in one direction, frictional resistance will be imparted thereto; and, when said member is rotated in the opposite direction, the frictional resistance will be decreased.

2. A mechanism of the character described comprising a stationary support, a brake drum mounted for rotation thereon, a resili-' ent brake-band having one end anchored to said support and having its other end engaging the inner surface of said drum, and means for rotating said drum in opposite directions.

3. A mechanism of thecharacter described comprising a stationary support, a brakedrum mounted for rotation thereon and having an internal brake-surface, a flexible brake-band in engagement therewith and having its inner end anchored to sald support, its other end being free and adapted to conform to the brake-drum surface, and

meansforrotating said. drum in opposite directions. 7

4;. A mechanism of the character described comprising a stationary support having an aperture therethru, a drum having an internal brake-surface, a brake-band in engagement therewith and having one end anchored to the support andhaving its other end engaging said brake-surface, and meansfor holding said drum and support together asa unit and secured within said supportaperture.

5. A mechanism of the character described comprising a stationary sup-port having a tubular hub, 3:5}7001 rotatable on said hub port, with all the parts carried thereby, on

the casing of a window.

6. A mechanism of the character described comprising a stationary sup-port'havmg .a.

tubular hub, a drum rotatable on said hub and having an internal'brake-surface, a shell secured in the hub and having a flange for holding the drum and support against separation, a brake-band secured with one end to saidshell-fiange, and having its other end in engagement with the drum-surface, a device passing thru said shell and hub for holding the support on the casing of a window, and means attached to the drum for coupling the adjacent end of, a shade-roller thereto.

. CHARLES F. SCHMELZ. 

